On September 1, the 10th Sunday after Pentecost, a joyous series of events took place in the Church of the Nativity of Christ and St. Nicholas in Florence, Italy. The hierarchical services that weekend were officiated by the First Hierarch of the Russian Church Abroad, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York

The feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos is celebrated very solemnly in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. In recent years, the Burial of the Mother of God has been added to the monastery typicon.

On Tuesday the 27th and Wednesday the 28th of August, the great feast of the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York officiate the divine services in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence at Divine Liturgy were cathedral clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

The Dormition is one of the most beloved and significant feasts of the Orthodox Church. The three great Lavras in Ukraine – Kiev Caves, Pochaev, and Svyatogorsk ‒ are dedicated to the Dormition of the Most Holy Theotokos. Likewise, more churches and monasteries in Rus’ were dedicated to this event than to any other. In the Florida Gethsemane – the Church of our Lady of Pochaev in North Port ‒ the great feast of the Dormition is celebrated with special trepidation and solemnity.

On Sunday, August 25, with the blessing of His Eminence, Metropolitan Nicholas, Archbishop Gabriel of Montreal & Canada visited Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. There, he presided over the Rite of Consecration of Antimensia, co-served by monastery abbot Bishop Luke of Syracuse.

On August 25, the 9th Sunday after Pentecost and the Afterfeast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Metropolitan Nicholas of Eastern America & New York celebrated Divine Liturgy in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City. Concelebrating with His Eminence were cathedral clerics: dean Archpriest Andrei Sommer and Protodeacon Serge Arlievsky.

On Sunday the 18th and Monday the 19th of August, on the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord, Bishop Luke of Syracuse, vicar of the Eastern American Diocese, officiated the All-Night Vigil and Divine Liturgy in in Holy Trinity Monastery in Jordanville, NY. His Grace was co-served by monastery clergy.

On Friday, August 16, clergy of the Eastern American Diocese gathered to serve the funeral of Archpriest Seraphim Stephens (former rector of St. Joseph of Optina Church in Virginia Beach, VA), who reposed on Friday, August 9. With the blessing of His Eminence Alexander, Archbishop of Dallas & the South of the OCA, the funeral was held in Holy Dormition Church in Norfolk, VA.

Attached to this appeal by my unworthiness to the Fullness of the Russian Church Abroad is a video about the history and significance of the Synodal Residence in New York City, which is the House of the Kursk Root Icon of the Mother of God “of the Sign,” the Protectress of the Russian Diaspora. Please familiarize yourselves with this short film, prepared by the Diocese of Germany, about the building that houses our spiritual and administrative center, and provide us with all possible assistance in the major renovation of the Synodal Residence.

On Sunday the 18th and Monday the 19th of August, His Eminence Nicholas, Metropolitan of Eastern America & New York, officiated the divine services for the great feast of the Transfiguration of the Lord in the Synodal Cathedral of the Sign in New York City.